Mike Bonanni Motorsports | Official Driver Website for Mike Bonanni

It's been a while since I have updated my blog and with the publication of my newly re-designed website, blog, Twitter page, and YouTube page, I felt I need to have some sort of fresh content for everyone checking it out. Unfortunately there isn't much going on currently in my life, but things are looking to pick up a little this month so here's what I have planned.

The biggest thing going on this month is the return of the 2010 Redline Time Attack series to the West Coast. Some of you may recall that I went out to Sebring International Raceway a few weeks ago for a Redline Time Attack event, but I didn't do much driving and I wasn't competing. I just helped instruct the student school on Saturday, worked grid on Sunday, and of course, wrote the event re-cap articles for RedlineTimeAttack.com. While that somewhat fulfilled my time attack fix, it hasn't been since the 4th of July that I have gotten behind the wheel of the Berk Technology Time Attack BMW 135i. For those that remember, we finished 3rd in Street Tire RWD at Willow Springs Raceway on that weekend, our worst finish this season (which we are still pretty happy with). Needless to say, I am looking for redemption, especially since the series is heading to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch out in Pahrump, NV, a place that I consider my "home track." Not much will be different on the Berk Technology 135i aside from a new full big brake kit from Performance Friction which will be a much welcomed upgrade from our previous setup. The event will take place on September 18th & 19th and if you can't make it out there to watch, be sure to follow my Twitter page for updates and check back here after the event for a full report.

Other than the one time attack event, the rest of my seat time will come from Exotics Racing, but the majority of that seat time will be in the passenger seat. For those that don't know, I have recently become a full-time driving instructor for the company and am working there most Wednesdays and Saturdays flying around the road course inside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Super Speedway Oval. The company has quite an impressive aray of cars; Two Ferrari F430s, two Lamborghini Gallardos, a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Lamborghini Murcialago, Audi R8, Aston Martin Vantage, and Porsche 997 S. Although I only get to do a handful of laps behind the wheel in the morning to warm the cars up, I can't complain too much about being in any of those awesome machines all day, even if it is in the passenger seat.

The other news will come from my garage with mine and my wife's cars. I have spent the past three months returning my 370Z back to 100% stock form after deciding to get rid of it for a better suited daily driver. As of a few days ago, the car is finally back to it's original state and the hunt is on for a replacement. I am leaning towards a 2008+ Subaru STI, but the BMW 335i Sedan and a few others are also still in the running.

My last blog post featured a new set of BC Racing BR Type coilovers for my wife's daily driven MINI Cooper S. At the time, I had not installed the coilovers, but rest assured they are on the car now and are awesome. I have refrained from taking pics and doing a full review for a few reasons. One being that I want to get the right ride height and alignment out of it before I snap some good pics. The coilovers have settled now and I still want to lower the car another 1/2" or so then I will do an alignment, wash it, and get some updated pics for my blog. The plan is to tackle that task this coming Labor Day weekend.

In my life outside of racing, I will be spending a lot of time in spandex (no photo, you're welcome) this month training for my first official road bike event. My brother-in-law, wife, and myself have all signed up for the Las Vegas LIVESTRONG Day Ride which takes place on October 2nd. We will be riding a total of 60 miles through the Red Rock Canyon and Summerlin areas. I haven't spent as much time on my bike as I would like, but that's what the next three weeks are for right?

---Mike Bonanni




	September Preview - Time Attack, Lamborghinis, and Spandex?
	It's been a while since I have updated my blog and with the publication of my newly re-designed website, blog, Twitter page, and YouTube page, I felt I need to have some sort of fresh content for everyone checking it out. Unfortunately there isn't much going on currently in my life, but things are looking to pick up a little this month so here's what I have planned. The biggest thing going on this month is the return of the 2010 Redline Time Attack series to the West Coast. Some of you may recall that I went out to Sebring International Raceway a few weeks ago for a Redline Time Attack event, but I didn't do much driving and I wasn't competing. I just helped instruct the student school on Saturday, worked grid on Sunday, and of course, wrote the event re-cap articles for RedlineTimeAttack.com. While that somewhat fulfilled my time attack fix, it hasn't been since the 4th of July that I have gotten behind the wheel of the Berk Technology Time Attack BMW 135i. For those that remember, we finished 3rd in Street Tire RWD at Willow Springs Raceway on that weekend, our worst finish this season (which we are still pretty happy with). Needless to say, I am looking for redemption, especially since the series is heading to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch out in Pahrump, NV, a place that I consider my "home track." Not much will be different on the Berk Technology 135i aside from a new full big brake kit from Performance Friction which will be a much welcomed upgrade from our previous setup. The event will take place on September 18th & 19th and if you can't make it out there to watch, be sure to follow my Twitter page for updates and check back here after the event for a full report. Other than the one time attack event, the rest of my seat time will come from Exotics Racing, but the majority of that seat time will be in the passenger seat. For those that don't know, I have recently become a full-time driving instructor for the company and am working there most Wednesdays and Saturdays flying around the road course inside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Super Speedway Oval. The company has quite an impressive aray of cars; Two Ferrari F430s, two Lamborghini Gallardos, a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, Lamborghini Murcialago, Audi R8, Aston Martin Vantage, and Porsche 997 S. Although I only get to do a handful of laps behind the wheel in the morning to warm the cars up, I can't complain too much about being in any of those awesome machines all day, even if it is in the passenger seat. The other news will come from my garage with mine and my wife's cars. I have spent the past three months returning my 370Z back to 100% stock form after deciding to get rid of it for a better suited daily driver. As of a few days ago, the car is finally back to it's original state and the hunt is on for a replacement. I am leaning towards a 2008+ Subaru STI, but the BMW 335i Sedan and a few others are also still in the running. My last blog post featured a new set of BC Racing BR Type coilovers for my wife's daily driven MINI Cooper S. At the time, I had not installed the coilovers, but rest assured they are on the car now and are awesome. I have refrained from taking pics and doing a full review for a few reasons. One being that I want to get the right ride height and alignment out of it before I snap some good pics. The coilovers have settled now and I still want to lower the car another 1/2" or so then I will do an alignment, wash it, and get some updated pics for my blog. The plan is to tackle that task this coming Labor Day weekend. In my life outside of racing, I will be spending a lot of time in spandex (no photo, you're welcome) this month training for my first official road bike event. My brother-in-law, wife, and myself have all signed up for the Las Vegas LIVESTRONG Day Ride which takes place on October 2nd. We will be riding a total of 60 miles through the Red Rock Canyon and Summerlin areas. I haven't spent as much time on my bike as I would like, but that's what the next three weeks are for right? ---Mike Bonanni